May 27, 2006 at
11:50 PM

In one of the first bold moves of the season, the Red Sox organization promoted two top prospects to Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. Barry Hertzler and David Murphy were summoned to the PawSox Friday morning after strong early-season campaigns in Double-A Portland. Hertzler, an East Providence, RI native and lifelong Red Sox fan, had posted a 1.13 ERA in 24 innings out of the bullpen for the Sea Dogs during the first two months of the 2006 season. Murphy, Boston's first round pick in 2003 (and Theo Epstein's first draft pick as general manager), was batting .280 while chipping in 3 home runs and 24 RBIs for Portland at the time of his call-up. Murphy will take over the centerfield reigns in Pawtucket, while Hertzler is expected to serve as the long reliever/setup man out of the PawSox 'pen.